As MPs debated the measures inside parliament, several hundred demonstrators outside took part in a protest called by Adedy, the civil service trade confederation, and the private sector GSEE union.
The nationwide strike, called by private-sector umbrella union GSEE and its public-sector counterpart, Adedy, paralyzed public services, shutting central and local government offices, courts, tax offices, state-controlled banks, schools and universities countrywide, while hospitals were operating on skeleton staff.